Working together

Co-operation a real boost for Island sports entertainment

Sports tourism has grown significantly on P.E.I. over the last 30-plus years with communities across our Island having hosted many events during that period. The future looks bright for continued growth, especially if communities combine forces to help secure events to host. It is great that the two rival cities of Charlottetown and Summerside have joined forces to host the 2019 Canadian Ringette Championships next April.

That event will have upwards of 48 teams in the under-16, under-19 and 19-plus divisions. Having that many teams, and the supporters they bring with them, will provide a big boost to Island tourism.

The two cities also have a joint bid in on the 2020 World Under17 World Hockey Challenge. If awarded to P.E.I., it will provide great hockey with some of the best prospects in the world competing. Hopefully the bid will be successful, and we can see even more events hosted by our two cities.

Baseball

The Major League Baseball winter meetings have just wrapped up in Las Vegas with trades and free agent signings highlighting the four days. One of the hot topics of discussion was the shift that has become more and more popular with teams.

Past stats tell teams where players tend to hit, which has managers moving the defence to the areas of the field that players most often hit to. Employing the shift works, but it also makes for boring baseball and proof of that comes with the lowest league batting average since 1972.

The .248 average combined with the fact that for the first time in MLB history there were more strikeouts than hits has the league concerned. Attendance was down four per cent from 2017, with average attendance of 28,597, which was the lowest and the first time since 2003, the league average was below 30,000 per game. Some in baseball think the shift should be banned, but I like what Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin says.

He thinks they should leave the rules alone but have your teams learn to hit the other way and that makes perfect sense. After all, the players are the best and to get to the big show, players have to be able to hit. The players are very well paid and should be able to hit to any part of the field and, if they can’t, then they should learn. It will be interesting to see what happens in the months ahead.

NHL

The Edmonton Oilers have turned things around under new coach Ken Hitchcock. They underachieved with former coach Todd McLellan as did his former team in San Jose. Being 8-2-2 under Hitchcock kind of proves that point.

When the Oilers hired McLellan, Gerard Gallant was available and would have been the perfect fit with that young and talented Oilers team. At any rate, coaching has made a difference in Edmonton and they look like they will now be a playoff team this year.

Good commercial

This is the time of the year when a lot of socializing takes place and some have the tendency to drive after drinking. A real good commercial on local television featuring four members of the Charlottetown Islanders hockey club should have an impact this holiday season.

It shows a gentleman about to drive after drinking but the Islanders stand in his way, preventing him from doing so. The commercial caught my attention and I never drink and drive. Hopefully it catches the attention of those who do.

Have a great week.